Regional

5:12 pm

Tue February 2, 2010

Las Cruces Police Seek Man In Tuesday Thefts

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police are trying to identify the man who attempted to steal cash from two stores Tuesday morning and, in the process, received injuries during both attempts.

Shortly after 3 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2, police were called to the Pic Quik store at 825 Avenida de Mesilla after a man attempted to take cash from the register. Officers learned that the man asked the clerk to exchange coins for cash. When the register was opened the suspect tried grabbing cash but was stopped when the clerk slammed the drawer on the man's hand.

About 15 minutes after that incident was reported, a man walked into the Walgreens store at 2300 E. Lohman Ave. and, again, asked to exchange coins for cash. When the register was opened the suspect reached into the drawer and took an undisclosed amount of cash. In this incident, the cashier struck the man's face several times before the suspect ran out the front door.

Police believe the same suspect is responsible for both incidents.

Witnesses described the suspect as a white male, about 6-feet tall and weighing around 180 pounds. He was said to be wearing baggy blue jeans, and a black and gray windbreaker. He may have been driving a black and gray, late 1980's- or early 1990's-model single-cab Chevrolet pickup.

The last time he was seen, the suspect was believed to have a bloody face and an injured hand.

Anyone with information on the identity of the suspect is asked to call Las Cruces Crime Stoppers at 526-8000 or outside the Las Cruces area at 1-800-897-2746.